President Hassan Rouhani of Iran warned U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday to remain in the nuclear deal Tehran signed with world powers in 2015, or face “severe consequences”.

Trump has said that unless European allies fix what he has called “terrible flaws” in the deal by May 12, he will restore U.S. economic sanctions on Iran, which would be a severe blow to the pact.

The other powers that signed the deal – Russia, China, Germany, Britain and France – have all said they want to preserve the agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear programme in return for lifting most sanctions.

“I am telling those in the White House that if they do not live up to their commitments, the Iranian government will firmly react,” Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state television.

“If anyone betrays the deal, they should know that they would face severe consequences,” he told a cheering crowd of thousands gathered in the city of Tabriz.

“Iran is prepared for all possible situations,” he added.

French President Emmanuel Macron is in Washington, trying to convince Trump not to tear up the accord.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday he had agreed with his Chinese counterpart that Moscow and Beijing would try to block any U.S. attempt to sabotage the nuclear deal.

Iran has warned that it will ramp up its nuclear programme if the deal collapses.

A new study has shown that compared with nondrinkers, those who had one or more alcoholic drinks per day had an overabundance of oral bacteria linked to gum disease, some cancers, and heart disease.

The study published in the journal Microbiome also shows that drinkers had fewer bacteria known to check the growth of other harmful germs.

“Our study offers clear evidence that drinking is bad for maintaining a healthy balance of microbes in the mouth and could help explain why drinking, like smoking, leads to bacterial changes already tied to cancer and chronic disease,” said the study’s senior investigator and epidemiologist Jiyoung Ahn from New York University of Medicine.

The study offered evidence that rebalancing some of the 700 types of bacteria in the mouth, or oral microbiome, could potentially reverse or prevent some health problems tied to drinking.

According the study, drinkers had more of the potentially harmful Bacteroidales, Actinomyces, and Neisseria species, and fewer Lactobacillales, bacteria commonly used in probiotic food supplements meant to prevent sickness.

Researchers note that while their study was large enough to capture differences between bacteria among drinkers and nondrinkers, more people would be needed to assess any microbiome differences among those who consumed only wine, beer, or liquor.

Ahn said her team’s next steps were to work out the biological mechanisms behind alcohol’s effects on the oral microbiome.

Ahn suggested acids in alcoholic beverages make the oral environment hostile for certain bacteria to grow.

Another reason, according to her, could be the buildup of harmful byproducts from alcohol’s breakdown, including chemicals called acetaldehydes, which are produced by certain bacteria, such as Neisseria.

Former super eagles star, Femi Opabunmi reveals how he became blind.

That photo defined the rapid rise of the then 17–year-old who a year earlier had just had his first experience at an international competition.

Femi Opabunmi marks David Beckham during Nigeria Vs England at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

A 16-year-old Opabunmi finished the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago with five goals to take the Silver Shoe as the second highest goalscorer and the Bronze Ball as the third best player of the tournament.
Huge things were expected from the left-footer who reportedly caught the attention of the likes of Manchester United and Lyon.

At 17 the next year, he was part of the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and played that group game against England.

Blindness strikes
Although he never hit the heights expected of him, Opabunmi was enjoying a steady football career until tragedy struck in 2006.

What happened next is a story that has been well told.
“I just woke up one day and I just saw the cloud, I was not seeing well,” the former Super Eagles player told BBC Pidgin English channel.
“We went to the specialist and checked the eye, we went from one place to another before my career went.

“I can’t play professional football again, because of my eyes, but I have to keep myself fit because it is the game I love very much with all my life.”
Opabunmi became blind in the right eye, a condition that mysteriously could not be cured by the best medical practices.

At that time, he had spent four years at Grasshopper in Switzerland before stints at Hapoel Be’er Sheva F.C in Israel and Niort in France.
He was in Niort when the eye problem struck.

Quote
“When I went to Grasshopper, I signed a four-year contract. After my stint at Grasshopper, I went to Hapoel Be’er Sheva in Israel, I played just six to eight months, then I crossed to France. I played in France (Niort FC) for like one season when my eye problem started,” he further said.

“I saw a doctor in France for Porche, the doctor said it was a case of glaucoma. They said my case was complicated and that they don’t understand everything.”
With no solution from the doctors in France, Opabunmi returned to Nigeria to seek traditional help.

“I came down to Nigeria and started going from one place to place. Native doctor, anybody, I went there,” he said.
“This eye took me to so many places they don’t expect to see me there. The problem got worse and worse again.”

Unable to continue his football career in Europe, Opabunmi tried out with Enyimba but his right blind eye limited him.
“In 2007, I came to Enyimba to see if I can play with one blind, to manage. But I could not play with the blind eye,”

He said.
These days, Opabunmi resides in Ibadan with his wife and three children at his at his bungalow, the only property he owns, the only thing remaining after he sold everything.

Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has visited wounded troops engaged in the war against Boko Haram insurgents in Lake Chad region.

Col. Timothy Antigha, the Chief of Military Public Information, Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), made the disclosure in a statement in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

Antigha stated that Olonisakin visited Nigerian, Camerounian and Chadian troops receiving treatment at hospitals in N’Djamena, Chad.

He said the troops on treatment sustained injuries in the ongoing Operation AMNI FAKAT in Lake Chad region.

He noted that Olonisakin visited troops on admission at the Renaissance Hospital, N’Djamena and commended them for their sacrifice.

“Gen. Olonisakin expressed the appreciation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for the sacrifices of the wounded soldiers and assured that every effort would be made to ensure their speedy recovery.

“The Chief of Defence Staff also visited wounded Cameroonian and Chadian troops at the Military Hospital, N’Djamena; where he commended them for their courage and doggedness in fighting alongside Nigerian and Nigerien troops, in a sub regional effort to rid the Lake Chad Basin of violent extremism and terrorism.”

Antigha added that Olonisakin also donated drugs and dresses toward the up keep of the wounded troops.

According to him, Operation AMNI FAKAT was launched by the Task Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, in the past two weeks.

The operation was designed to flush out Boko Haram terrorists from their last stronghold in the Lake Chad Basin.

Edo State caucus of the All
Progressives Congress, APC,
yesterday, unanimously endorsed
former Governor Adams
Oshiomhole to contest for the
national chairmanship of the party
in the forthcoming convention.
State Chairman of the party,
Anselm Ojezua, who disclosed
this after a meeting of party
chieftains at the Government
House in Benin City, said the
party resolved to proceed with
the congress at the wards, local
government and state levels.
“The state chapter of the party
unanimously resolved to support
the former governor to vie for
the position of national chairman
at the national convention billed
to hold on May 14 in the Federal
Capital Territory, FCT.”
Senate Deputy Chief Whip,
Senator Francis Alimikhena, said
Comrade Oshiomhole is the right
man to take over the leadership
of the party at the national level
when the tenure of the present
Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun,
ends in June.
Member representing Etsako
Federal Constituency at the
House of Representatives,
Johnson Oghuma, said the state
caucus of the party agreed that all
votes from Edo State should be in
support of Comrade Oshiomhole.
“The position of the state caucus
is not negotiable. Oshiomhole has
the experience to take the party
to the next level, especially as the
2019 presidential election draws
close.”
Member representing
Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal
Constituency, Ehiozuwa
Agbonayinma, also said
Oshiomhole has the charisma to
comfortably lead the party at the
national level.
“The state caucus has
collectively done the needful by
requesting Comrade Oshiomhole
to assist in re-organising and
preparing the party for the 2019
presidential election.”

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria-US Relations/Inter-Parliamentary, Hon Johnson Agbonayinma on Tuesday declared that available facts on smart device connectivity in Nigeria indicated that 125 million smart device users were not getting consistent network connectivity from a single provider.

Agbonayinma, who is representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha federal constituency of Edo State in the Houe of Representatives, made the declaration at the unveilingof the Cloud Cover Networking Switch device which he said would revolutionise the telecoms industry and create a lot of jobs for Nigerian youths.

The federal lawmaker lamented that 50 percent of Nigeria’s mobile capacity was under-utilised due to lack of service, adding that Africa, especially Nigeria, is still lagging behind despite great advancements recorded in the western world in an age of information technology.

According to him, “Available facts on smart device connectivity in Nigeria indicate that 125 million smart device users are not getting consistent network connectivity from a single provider while 50 percent of the country’s mobile capacity is under-utilized due to lack of service.”

The lawmaker, who described Nigeria as a fertile ground for business, encouraged more investors to come and explore the opportunities in the country, just as he underscored the job opportunities such investments will generate.

“They (Cloud Cover) will engage a lot of the youths and as you can see across the country today they have distributors and they are doing excellently well. And they are also doing well for themselves and taking care of their families.

“So I am also using this opportunity to encourage other investors that Nigeria is a fertile ground.  I believe Nigeria is a good country, a good nation despite all the odds. Something good can come out of Nigerians,” he said.

He stressed further said all the benefits were not restricted to Nigeria alone, noting that the new product had partners with multiple international service providers in over 100 countries, including the US and UK, which enables browsing and constant connectivity.

Speaking earlier, the founder and chief executive officer, Cloud Cover Distribution, Nick Dixon, who said mobile data which used to be luxury is now a necessity, said with the new product, there is now an ability to switch and travel abroad without having to carry many phones and gadgets.

Dixon added that he and his partners from China worked long and hard to design and develop the product specifically for the Nigeria market.

The focus of the product, he said, was to ensure that consumers enjoy domestic connectivity and quick travelling.

The Cloud Cover CC1 MiFi device is an Internet Mifi device that makes use of all available network signals within its range to optimise the browsing experience for its users.

A strong indication of both the quality and failure of politics in Nigeria, as the people look forward to the next general elections in 2019, is the manner in which virtually “every” Nigerian believes that he or she is good enough to be President of Nigeria.

This may speak to a deepening of political consciousness, but it is also a reflection of the people’s anxiety and frustration about how the office and position of the President of Nigeria seems to have been mishandled and demystified. The process of that demystification has taken different shapes and tones since the return to civilian rule in 1999, but now everything seems to have gone so bad, far beyond expectation. My mechanic couldn’t have phrased this national dilemma better. He came to see me the other day, full of excitement.

“Oga, it’s you I have come to see oh.” Typical Nigerian manner of speaking: you are right in front of me, and yet you still consider it necessary to announce your presence. Anyhow, I nodded affirmatively, already working out a response to a likely solicitation for money. It is school resumption time, and it is usual for people to go soliciting for help to pay children’s school fees in a country where basic education is so unaffordable.

“Oga, I have come to inform you that I am thinking of running for President.” I thought the guy was talking about the Presidency of the Mechanics Village Association. So, I brightened up. No, he meant President of Nigeria. I removed my eyeglasses and dropped my pen.

“President of Nigeria? How? Look, have you been drinking?”
“Oga, you know I am a Christian. I don’t drink. I am serious oh. I have been thinking about it for a while. I can do a better job. The way these people are running Nigeria, some of us have good ideas about what can be done. If we leave this Nigeria to these politicians, they will finish all of us. Anybody that likes this country should get involved.”
I paid attention to him.
“Oga, look at me, I can do it. We can do it. I have worked it out. By the grace of God, I will be the next President of Nigeria.”

I had known this mechanic for a while, but I never suspected he had very tall ambitions. I had not yet given him my honest opinion; he had already conscripted me. “We can do it”. We? Every Nigerian politician is an optimist, and the most optimistic are often the ones who don’t even stand a chance at the polls.
I pretended to be interested all the same; so he continued with his campaign.
“Oga, you know me. Am I a lazy man? No. I am not.” When people insist on answering their own questions the best you can do in the circumstance is to listen.

“What this country needs now is a mechanic, somebody who can take a look at a vehicle that is having problems, and fix it. We mechanics do that every day. When they bring a car to you, first you diagnose. What is wrong with the car? Why is it not functioning well, and then you go straight to the problem and fix it. Why can’t people fix Nigeria? If we mechanics were to behave like politicians, this whole country will be littered with broken down vehicles. In the hands of these politicians, Nigeria is broken. E be like say Nigeria don knock engine sef. I am the man who will fix that engine.”

“But nobody will give you any chance. Everybody will laugh and think you are joking.”
“I am not joking, Oga. What does it take to be President? I have done my homework. The only thing they are asking for is a WAEC certificate. I have my certificate ready and I can produce it to prove that I completed secondary school.”
“How many credits?”, I asked, trying to humour him.

“INEC does not ask for five credits. Even F9 parallel sef can be President of Nigeria. No be Nigeria?”
“But you don’t have the resources. You’d need a lot of money.”
“Oga, it is not about money. And if it is money, God will provide. Our Pastor in our church has been praying for me and God is speaking to us. When I become President, I will declare free education, free health and there will no lazy youth in Nigeria again!”

“Why don’t you start at a lower level. may be local government chairman, gain some experience.”
“Ha. Oga, Experience has shown that in Nigerian politics you don’t need experience. Who has experience helped? All those former Governors in the National Assembly, what kind of experience do they have? In fact, let me just say a lot of them go there to sleep and collect free money, travel free. I have seen their pictures. They go there to sleep. When some thugs stormed the place to steal the Mace, not one of them could stand up and protect the Mace. Lazy Senators. Only a woman, a sergeant at arms was courageous enough to challenge the Mace thieves. When I am President, nobody will dare steal the Mace. It won’t happen.”

I felt like telling him that there has been too much drama over the significance of the Mace in our legislatures. It is at best a ceremonial symbol. For a session of the legislature to be valid under the 1999 Constitution what is required is a quorum as defined under Section 54, but of course the kind of criminal conduct that was put up at the Senate, last week, is condemnable and should be investigated and all authors of that act of impunity must be sanctioned accordingly. I didn’t say anything to him along these lines, rather I was more impressed by his passion, his determination to save Nigeria and arrest the drift. I was also struck by the fact that he is not the only Nigerian with such passion. There have been many of his kind, now active on social media, promoting a vision of Nigeria and insisting that they would be better materials for 2019.

The number of these aspiring Presidents keeps increasing everyday and while I consider some of their posters a bit curious and the candidates a bit unusual, taken together, the shared anxiety about the Presidency and who is best fit to lead Nigeria beyond 2019 says a lot about public expectations. There are online, video-tapes of a certain Aunty Monica, for example. She is based in Europe and she wants to come home to be President, to bring investment and tourism to the country, and she says she has “ideas in her head.” I have also seen such banners as “Vote Iya Bayo for president, Aunti Ramota for Vice President”, and “PFANN: A new refreshing wind blowing over the nation. Get ready. Elishama 2019.”

The names of a popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, and that of the legendary footballer, Kanu Nwankwo have also been mentioned as potential Presidents of Nigeria. Neither Pasuma nor Kanu has confirmed their interest in the job. But the social media is the forum where many ideas are hatched, and many of such ideas also die on social media, but what is said about public reality should not be ignored. Nigerians want what is now referred to as the #realchange.

They are disappointed. They are angry. There is also a growing resentment to the repeated claim by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari’s handlers that there is no alternative to Buhari. In a most recent article, Garba Shehu, a Presidential spokesperson asks what he considers “an important question” – “who do you have that is better?. Then he answers it himself; “…certainly there is no face (other than Buhari) that can be called the President of Nigeria.” Garba Shehu even scoffs at the Coalition Movement that started a protest against the two leading political parties in Nigeria – APC and PDP, and asked for a one-term Buhari Presidency. He says “a so-called Third Force has failed to gain political traction since its birth.”

My mechanic, Aunty Monica, Iya Bayo, Aunti Ramota, and Elishama – these are ordinary Nigerians- certainly disagree that only one man’s face is good for the Nigerian Presidency. They in fact believe that they will do a much better job. But perhaps the more significant development is the emergence of new faces on the political scene who are also keenly interested in rescuing Nigeria and whose declared starting point is the Presidency. I once described them as products of the Trudeau-Macron effect. Justin Trudeau, 46, became Prime Minister of Canada in 2015.

Emmanuel Macron, 39 assumed office as President of France in 2017. There is also the current Chancellor of Austria, Sebastian Kurz – he is the youngest President in the world. He is 31. An emerging group of Nigerian political leaders falls into this category: they are challenging current political orthodoxies; they are educated, they are internationally exposed, they can think out of the box and above all, they are united in their resolve that President Muhammadu Buhari is replaceable in 2019.

They equally pose a challenge to the traditional political elite, which so far is yet to make up its mind about presidential candidates or alternative platforms for the 2019 Presidential and general elections. The usual tendency is to dismiss them as “noise makers and attention seekers”, but they probably constitute the real “Third Force” that will produce the traction that the Presidency is yet to see.

One newspaper has identified up to about 24 of these emerging “game changers”. There is Bukunyi Olateru-Olagbegi, 27 who has registered a political party – the Modern Democratic Party (MDP). He is not running for President but the MDP could become a useful platform for youth mobilization and conscientization.

There is also Omoyele Sowore, 47, former students’ union leader, civil rights activist and founder of Sahara Reporters, an online newspaper. For the past month or so, Sowore has been on the campaign trail, addressing students and civil society groups. He has also appeared on radio and television. His main message is that Nigerian youth should “take back Nigeria” from those who have destroyed it. He has in particular been very critical of the Buhari government. “I can run Nigeria better than Buhari in my sleep”, he says. When a serving Minister, Adebayo Shittu told Sowore to go and start as a councilor, during a radio programme, Sowore held his ground. Kingsley Moghalu, 55, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), an author and a scholar, has also declared his interest in the Nigerian Presidency. He is offering Nigeria, “bold and decisive leadership …something different … by a capable, experienced technocrat.” Like Sowore, Moghalu means business.

You also have Fela Durotoye, 47, a Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN). Durotoye wants to rebuild Nigeria through visionary and inspirational leadership. Alistair Soyode is the founder of BEN TV in the United Kingdom. For years, he has been reporting Nigerian stories to the world and to Africans in diaspora. Like Sowore, he has also decided to become directly involved in Nigerian politics. Other emerging aspirants include Professor Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, 55 who says “power must go to women and the youth”; Sam Nwanti, an international detective, and a member of the Labour party, who wants to “fight crime and corruption”. Others include US-based Omololu Omotosho, Lewis Omike, a filmmaker and photographer, Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, 47, of the National Conscience Party, and 35-year old Adamu Garba II.

The temptation is to dismiss this category of aspirants as Minister Shittu has done, in part because they do not preach the message of religion, ethnicity and money, and they do not seem to have any Godfathers who can offer them existing structures in exchange for conditions of service.

Many of them may even throw in the towel before the actual race begins. The old brigade of Nigerian politics is not in a hurry to retire, change tactics or yield space. People don’t become Presidents in Nigeria by merely pasting posters and social media messages or through sheer idealism. IN 2011, Dele Momodu, 51 at the time, tried to run for President. He has many stories to tell. The Trudeau-Macron effect in our politics may still take a few more years. But it would be wrong to ignore what the new faces represent: a more deep-seated yearning for change among the youth and the middle class, and at least two of them: Sowore and Durotoye are already exercising much influence among the Nigerian youth, not just on social media but also across the educational institutions and the streets.

Last year, the Federal Government set up a Presidential Committee on Prisons Decongestion with a view to reducing the number of inmates in Nigeria’s congested prisons, as well as comprehensively review the ugly situation and come up with appropriate recommendations for the imperative prison reform. Part of the terms of reference of the committee is to critically examine instances of human rights violations, grant special pardon and release inmates especially where such cases of right violations are established.

The presidential committee which is chaired by Justice Ishaq Bello, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has Mrs. Leticia Ayoola Daniels as secretary. The committee is under the supervision of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Notably, the committee has been active since its inauguration visiting prisons in Imo, Rivers State, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, etc.

It is commendable for the Federal Government to have set up the committee under the chairmanship of a renown, professional and competent number one judge in the FCT, Justice Bello. So far, the reports of the nationwide prison tour and the results of the committee’s operations, particularly in terms of the number of inmates being released do not only evoke the sense of justice and humanity but also they demonstrate the import of the humanitarian crisis in our prison.

It is remarkable that a number of inmates who were, for instance, thrown into prison for stealing food crops or goats or yams and have served up to five years and above secured their freedom by the Justice Bello’s committee. There are inmates who have served up to 17 years in prison without being charged to court. Authorities clearly declared that over 70 percent of those in Nigeria’s prisons have never been charged to court once.

There are some inmates who have no money to hire the services of lawyers and some have nobody to stand by them. Under this circumstance, the inmates have been denied justice, a confirmation of a legal maxim that says, ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’.

Many are in bad health condition because of the abysmally decadent or inadequate or unavailable facilities. Some of the prisons in the country were inherited from the colonial masters and are therefore in bad, unusable state; however, as a result of the increasing number of inmates, prison rooms that are supposed to take, say 20 inmates, you find unfortunately taking 50 inmates hurdled into them like sardines. Then prison authorities made a wild claim that the daily budget for an inmate’s welfare is N14,000! Shouldn’t the anti-corruption agencies beam searchlight on the management of Nigeria prisons?

But as important as prison decongestion programme is, one of the issues that must be considered is: where are the inmates that regained their freedom going? This question is critical because the prison that is supposed to serve essentially as a correctional or rehabilitation facility did little or nothing to rehabilitate them.

We also observe that one of the reasons why our prisons are congested is the weak inclination of our alternative dispute resolution in Nigeria.

These and more instances are where we urge the Bello-led committee’s recommendation on prison reform to be emphatic and firm. We have had several prisons reform panels that were just waste of public funds; however, we support Bello-led committee and are confident that it will lead to positive end for our prisons and inmates. The Federal Government should also ensure that it implements the recommendations of the committee.

Senator Sani was born on October
29, 1967 in Tudun Wada Kaduna. He
had his primary schooling at Local
Government Education Authority
(LGEA), Badarawa, and Kaduna
between 1975 and 1980. He enrolled
at Government Day Secondary school,
Kagara, Niger State 1980–1984 and
proceeded to Government Science
College School, Kagara, Niger
State. He gained admission into the
Kaduna Polytechnic in 1984, to study
Agricultural Engineering up to HND
level, in 1993.
His father was a Production
Manager. He trained in the UK and
Germany and had worked with New
Nigerian Newspaper for 30 years
before he worked as a Printer with
Kano-based Daily mail. He was also
the Government Printer for Sokoto
State from 1976 to 1979.
During his school days at Kaduna
Polytechnic he was a student union
activist. He was Chairman, Central
Mobilization Committee of PANAfrican
Student Organization and
President African Democratic Youth
Congress. He served as social Director
Kaduna State Students Union.
His father had a well stocked library
where he drenched himself and drank
from the pool of literary knowledge,
especially books on socialism and
politics of the left. At that period there
was massive inflow of literature from
Eastern Europe. The exposure to books
helped shaped his thoughts and leftist
perception of life, as well as exposing
him to the reality and decadence brought
to the society by military dictatorship.
He was equally influence by the
likes of Aminu Kano and the Northern
Elements Progressive Union (NEPU)
and PRP (Peoples Redemption party)
radical politics.
From Kaduna Polytechnic, he plunged
into national activism. He was introduced
into the Campaign for Democracy (CD),
Nigeria’s umbrella pro-democracy
group by activists like Femi Falana
and Beko Ransome Kuti and thereafter
served as the Northern Coordinator and
National Vice Chairman of the group.
He was first detained in July 1993 under
the regime of General Babagida. His
offences then was that he advocated for
the revalidation of the result of the June
12, 1993, Presidential election polls won
by the Late Chief M.K.O Abiola. He was
charged to a magistrate court in Kaduna
for sedition.
During the Chief Earnest Shonekan
Interim Government, he was arrested
and detained for two weeks and later
charged to court for sedition again.
During General Sani Abacha regime, he
was implicated in the 1995 phantom coup
and subsequently jailed for life and later
commuted to 15 years by the Patrick Aziza
Special Military Tribunal that convicted
the likes of former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, Col Lawan Gwadabe (rtd) and
Chris Anyanwu and other journalists.
He was detained in various Prisons;
Kirikiri, Kaduna, Port-Harcourt, Enugu
and Aba. Before his several incarcerations,
he co-founded the Movement for Unity
and Progress and teamed up with
other northern progressive’s like Col.
Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd.), Dr.
Bala Usman, Mr. James Bawa Magaji
and Alhaji Balarabe Musa, to fight for
the actualization of June 12 annulled
presidential election and other causes.
Sani is renowned for providing
Human Right campaign supports to
the poor and the disadvantage and in
the process had clashed with security
agents and other state power-wielders.
During the religious riots in Kaduna
in 2000, he was the only human right
activist in Kaduna that came out in the
heat of the violence to condemn the
massacre. In 2005, he was appointed to
reshape the civil society in the national
conference. Tradition rulers in the
conference asked that Shehu Sani be
barred from further speaking went
he asked for their dissolution because
of their pliant support for military
dictator in the past. The chairman
of the commission, Justice Niki Tobi
turned down the call. During the riot in
Kaduna, he pioneered the distribution
of relief materials and initiated the
visit to the “war zone” at the time
when it was the most suicidal thing to
contemplate.
In an effort to contribute to
addressing the challenges of insecurity
in Nigeria, Sani facilitated the meeting
of former President Olusegun
Obasanjo to the family of slain Boko
Haram Leader Muhammed Yusuf in
2011; His initiative ignited a debate and
dialogue. In 2013, he was appointed
by President Goodluck Jonathan
into a Federal Government National
Committee to Dialogue with the Boko
Haram insurgency, he turned down the
offer on the ground that his previous
recommendation was not used.
Sani had many literary works to his
credit. They include: Killing fields,
-2007; Poverty in Northern Nigeria;
Political Assassination in Nigeria, 2007;
Youth as vanguard in the Battle against
corruption; Scorpion under pillow,
2007; Civilian dictators of Africa, 2008;
Betrayal and Society, 2009; Protest and
freedom, 2012; Rebellious ideas, 2013
Hatred for Black people, 2013
In 2003, Sani contested for the Senate
under Alliance for Democracy (AD)
and lost to Senator Muktar Aruwa
of the All Nigerian Peoples Party
ANPP. In 2011, he contested for the
senate under Congress for Progressive
Change (CPC) and lost to Senator Sani
Saleh in the primaries. In 2015, Sani
won the senate seat after defeating
Senator Sani Saleh in the primaries and
defeated Senator Muktar Aruwa in the
General Election.
On September 4, 2015, he became
the first and only Nigerian Senator to
declare his assets publicly.
He is currently the Senate Committee
Chairman on Local & Foreign Debts
and also serves as the Vice Chairman
on Senate Committee on Foreign
Affairs.
He is a recipient of several Human
Rights Awards, including Senior
Advocate of the Masses award from
the National Conscience Party.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the suit filed by Accord Party challenging the National Assembly’s re-ordering of the sequence of election which countered the time table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The court ruled on Wednesday that the National Assembly could not amend the election timetable of INEC.

Both houses of the National Assembly had amended the Electoral Act bill had adopted a reordered sequence of the 2019 general election, putting the presidential election last.

The proposed sequence of elections would have made the national assembly election come first, followed by governorship and state houses of assembly, and presidential.

This is against the sequence rolled out by INEC, which put presidential and national assembly elections first and governorship and state assembly to follow.

President Muhammadu Buhari refused to assent to the bill and returned it to the National Assembly because it violated some provisions of the constitution, but the House of Representatives and Senate threatened to invoke its powers under section 58(5) of the 1999 constitution to override the president.

Accord Party, through its counsel, Mr. Wole Olanipekun, its counsel, filed an application to stop the lawmakers from tampering with the electoral act.

Buhari notified the Senate about his action in a letter dated March 3, 2018, which was read by the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki during plenary.

The president said he withheld his assent to the bill because the amendment to the sequence of the elections in Section 25 of the Principal Act might infringe upon the constitutionally guaranteed discretion of INEC.

He stated that the section guaranteed the INEC to organise, undertake and supervise all the elections as provided in Section 15 (a) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution.

”The amendment to Section 138 of the Principal Act to delete two crucial grounds upon which an election may be challenged by candidates, unduly limits rights of candidates in elections to a free and fair electoral review process.

“The amendment to section 152 (325) of the Principal Act may raise constitutional issues over the competence of the National Assembly to legislate over Local Government elections.

Both houses last week dropped by bill, with the House of Representatives taking the lead.

The member of the House who initially sponsored the bill, Hon. Edward Pwajok, from Plateau, moved a motion to drop.

The senate also said it was re-considering the contentious provisions which the president snubbed.

The decision of the senate followed the debate on the bill which sought to further improve the electoral process as presented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sen. Suleiman Nazif at plenary.

Contributing, Sen. Kabiru Marafa (APC Zamfara) said the bill will further divide the Senate.

“It is unnecessary and we should not go to that. I don’t want us to finish the way we started,” he said.

Similarly, Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio said: ”But my disagreement with the Bill is that we cannot probate and reprobate, as a Senate we are distinguished people and we must not speak with both sides of our mouth.

”The sequence that is proposed here is such that not only has it taken us backwards, it shows that we look confused,” Akpabio said.

In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided said it was important for all Senators “”to be on the same page in matters such as this.

”We passed the Electoral Act and then we sent it to the President, the President returned that Bill with a number of observations.

” One of the observations he made was in respect of order of election, he also made observation with regards to local government elections which the National Assembly was given power under that Bill to make laws.

”The President has made observations in respect of some aspects of that Bill, he did not say that the Bill we passed was entirely useless.

”To save those noble provisions in the Electoral Act, it is important that we remove all those areas that the President had objected to and pass the remaining items as a separate Bill and send it back to him.

”Then we can now deal with the issues where he has issues as a separate Bill altogether, then we either defeat it or have it succeed.

”If it succeeds, we send it to the President, he decides what to do, if he brings it back, we also decide what to do.

”We need to clean up that Bill so that we will be able to save all those provisions that were already made in the elaborate bill,” Ekweremadu said. (NAN)

The Senate on Wednesday adjourned its plenary in solidarity with one of their colleagues Sen. Dino Melaye who was arrested and humiliated with men of the Police Force.

The decision of the Senate followed a motion moved by Senator Sam Anyanwu over the arrest of their colleagues. An yanwu had decried that the police refused he and other colleagues from seeing Melaye at the hospital.

However, the prayer that the senate adjourn was moved by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa who insisted that there was no need for the senate to sit about and debate when the health condition of their colleague was unknown.

He insisted that it was not only when a colleagues dies that the senate should adjourn but that the senate must adjourn over life threatening situations such as this.

The prayer was seconded by Senator Sunny Ugboji and adopted by the senate and the senate thereafter adjourned plenary.

The senate also adopted the motion that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, briefed the senate in plenary on Thursday.

As at the time of filing this report, the President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki as well as his colleagues had departed the National Assembly complex to go and visit their colleague.

Speaking, the President of the Senate said that the Senate leadership was very concerned about the turn of events surrounding the arrest and humiliation of their colleague.

Saraki said that he had already sent the Deputy Leader of the Senate to go and visit Melaye at the National Hospital Abuja.

“We as leadership are very concerned, Deputy leader and others have been sent to look for Dino Melaye. But it has gone beyond that and I can appreciate the emotions that have passed.

“The IGP should brief us tomorrow.

“I want to thank those who contributed. At times like this it is difficult to speak the truth because this is a violation on one, a violation on all of us, a violation on the institution and a violation on democracy.

“This action is a threat to the democracy we are all fighting for,

“We are about to go into an election period, and if these are the kind of excesses we will see from those responsible to protect us, then it is a cause for concern.

“We must all condemn this action, we should not be spending our energy on things like this,” he said.

Saraki added that since the incidence, he had been trying to reach the Police IGP to no avail, adding that is smirks of disrespect to him and to the institution of the Senate.

“I have not been able to reach the IGP and that is a disrespect, not only to me as an individual but to the institution of the Senate.

“This must stop. There are procedures and there are ways.

“We will go and ascertain Dino’s state of mind and find a solution to this problem,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Senator Chukwuka Utazi challenged his colleagues to speak the truth at all times insisting that it doesn’t matter if the senator in question was liked by all.

According to him, it could be Dino today and someone else today, adding that the action was an affront on the institution and on democracy.

He charged his colleagues that anyone who refrained from speaking or who supports the actions of the Police was not acting in the interest of Nigeria.

Senator Shehu Sani who gave soul searching sermon called on his colleagues and all arms of government to be mindful of their actions while they are in power as power would not always remain in their hands.

He stressed that the right things must be done by all who are in position of authority so that posterity would judge them faily.

Shortly before the senate adjourned, the delegation that was earlier sent to the National Hospital by Saraki returned to brief the upper legislative chamber.

Deputy Leader of the Senate Bala Ibn Na’Allah who led the delegation told the house that they were able to speak with the doctor in charge as well as the medical director of the hospital.

“The assurance we have is that they are doing what is possible to stabilize him. Currently he is in the intensive care unit and they are doing all they can to stabilize him.

“We tried to see him but the instruction is that only Senator Kaka and Abu Ibrahim have the permission to see him.

“There is one issue that is worrisome: his feeding is an issue, the Police is afraid to feed him, the National Hospital also expressed reservation about feeding him, but before we left we had a discussion on how to feed him.

“It was agreed that if there is a way they can arrange for food from any source but the source must taste the food first.

“There is an insistence to remove him from the National Hospital but the hospital has insisted that the police must sign an undertaken before he can be removed,” he said.

Former Big Brother Naija finalist, T-Boss has spoken on the relationship between housemates in the just concluded Big Brother Naija reality television show, Tobi and Cee-c.

TBoss, 2017 second runner-up of BBNaija, speaking with NET said she does not think Tobi and Cee-c can have a romantic relationship.

She, however, insisted that they can be friends.

She offered to have a discussion with the duo.

“I will like to talk to Cee-C and probably to Tobi as well. I will like to have a one-on one with those two people.

“I really don’t think they should have a romantic relationship with themselves outside of the house. I think they should patch up and be friends”, Tboss said.

Speaking on emergence of Miracle as the winner of ‘Double Wahala’ Edition, TBoss added that she expected Miracle to emerge as the winner.

“I saw it coming, I wanted him to win. I wasn’t surprised when he won,” she added.

Meanwhile Pictured below is a photo of Tobi, Alex and the winner of the 2018 edition of the Big Brother Naija, Miracle Ikechukwu Igbokwe.. They were all pictured with Tobi’s Billionaire Dad.

Following the brutal killings of two Catholic priests and 17 worshipers by Fulani herdsmen the apex organization of all Igbo socio-cultural associations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned the incident.

It said the action was not only despicable but unheard of in the history of the country.

President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who spoke at the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the organization in Enugu, Tuesday evening, said it was unthinkable that people could desecrate the hallowed or sacred place of worship and kill innocent worshippers without anybody or those in authority raising any eyebrow.

“The reports we are getting about the killing of two Catholic priests in Benue is worrisome and reprehensible. It should be condemned in all ramifications.

“It is despicable, condemnable and unacceptable. We have said it before and we are saying it again that Nigerians must be on the guard. These killings should not be allowed to continue,” Nwodo said.

A fatal accident involving a tipper and hree cars, has claimed the lives of three persons, left six other injured on Wednesday at the Banex Junction, near Tippers’ Garage in Abuja.

According to a correspondent who visited the scene, the victims were all taken to different hospitals in Abuja.

A witness, Mr Emmanuel Ade, said that there was an initial minor accident involving a Toyota Hillux and a taxi cab at the  scene before the fatal crash.

According to him, the major accident happened when the police were trying to control the traffic on the expressway.

Another witness, Mr Musa James, also said that the major accident occurred when the tipper appeared to have lost control while approaching the scene.

“The driver of the tipper was trying to maneuver his way when he noticed he could not control the vehicle.

The police were on the road stopping the tipper,’’ James said.

Mr Jafaru Wakili, another witness, said that when the FRSC personnel arrived at the scene, an angry mob descended on them and chased them away.

A senior officer of the FRSC who was contacted for comments, told our reporter that further information was being gathered about the accident.

Following the killings which took place in Benue state which saw the deat of a lot of people, a full list of the victims involved has been revealed.

According to DAILY POST this is the full list of the victims of herdsmen attack in Ali Agudu village, Mbawa council ward, GUMA LGA, Benue State where 20 persons were killed.

Here are names of the deceased whose bodies have been deposited in the Daudu Mortuary.

1: Member Martha Ugbuudsu
2:Ukohol Nyamve
3: Zaki Michael Alaaga
4: Cosmas Alaaga
5: Ukaave Ujiir
6: Terdoo Ivokor
7 Wankusu Paulina Augustine
8: Ushiver Tyeku
9: Mayooga Tyeku
10: Maggi Adoo
11: Charity Shomngi
12: Iermber Babangida
13: Babangida Kulega
14: Akombobee Bua
15: Bridget Ugbuusu
16: Hannah Kaduna
17: Eucharia Anyoko
18: Wankaa Zende
19: Michael Akosu

Nigeria’s army is planning a makeover for the Sambisa Forest, from being the den of Boko Haram terrorists into a tourist destination.

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, announced the plan on Wednesday.

“Nigerian Army to collaborate with National Park Service and Borno State Government to turn Sambisa forest to tourist centre to attract tourists into the country – Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai,” tweeted Bashir Ahmad, President Muhammadu Buhari’s new media aide.

Ahmad did not say how the military plans to attract tourists to Sambisa while it shelters Boko Haram and a military spokesman did not respond to requests seeking comment. Ahmad’s tweet generated about 190 reactions.

Ptresident Buhari and army chief Buratai have said repeatedly the insurgency has been defeated. Recently, the army launched an operation to finally uproot the insurgents from the area.

The insurgency began in 2009 when police killed Boko Haram’s leader, Mohammed Yusuf. Before that, the northeastern state of Borno was popular with tourists. Sambisa itself was a game reserve under and after British colonial rule.

More recently, the thick vegetation which extends for hundred of square miles has provided a haven for the militancy and helped thwart army attempts to eradicate the group.

The 2018 blockbuster movie “Black Panther” gives a nod to Sambisa and Boko Haram as the superhero rescues kidnapped schoolgirls from a militant group in the forest.

Many of the actual Chibok girls were held in Sambisa. More than 100 remain unaccounted for, though investigative journalist Ahmad Salkida has said only 30 remain alive.

It is not the first time Nigerian authorities have mooted turning a Boko Haram site into an attraction.

Last year, Borno state officials discussed turning the group founder Yusuf’s house into a museum. This raised concern it could become a place of homage for Boko Haram’s sympathisers.

*Reported by Reuters

Odafe Atogun, an Abuja based writer has urged parents to support their children on their career choices to enable them attain successes.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Atogun’s debut novel `Taduno’s Song’ was selected recently for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club.

Atogun in an interview with NAN in Abuja said such support would further boost the children’s confidence towards attaining their goals in life.

He advised budding writers to stay focused in pursuing their dreams adding that writing required consistence.

“My advice to young writers is to continue to write, they should not lose focus and they should not write just for the gains because that could take a long while to come.

“They should go into writing because they have a passion for it, when you have passion for what you’re doing even if it’s not beneficial in terms of money you will keep writing.

“Writing is like an adventure you embark upon, and it may be tiring, demanding and comes with its challenges but just keep going.

“You could also liken writing to the game of sports, football for instance, the more you play the better you become, so they should keep writing one day someone would take notice,’’ he said.

Atogu who is currently mentoring some writers said, “as writers our primary objective is to reach out to the younger generation and young coming up writers who wants to find their feet in the profession.

According to him,“ reaching out to the younger generation or young writers is not a direct or pacific project, but is more like a duty for every writer to help the younger ones.

“As often as they can with regards to inspiring them and helping to edit their works and putting them in the right direction.

“Ever since, one or two writers have reach out to me , a young guy who is aspiring to become a writer, that I have tried to mentor him as much as possible.

“Another young guy that have tried to reach out to me, and he has written a book which was self published, of which I bought ten copies to encourage him.

“These are young people that need encouragement, so whenever I can to inspire a young coming up writer I try because for all of us I think is a duty to encourage them,’’ he said.

Atogun has been compared to Franz Kafka and George Orwell in critical reviews.

Following his two-book deal with Canongate, Penguin Random House and Arche Verlag, Atogun’s second novel, Wake Me When I’m Gone, was published in 2017.

His works have been translated into several languages. (NAN)

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has failed to appear before the Senate over the arrest and detention of Senator Dino Melaye and the killings across Nigeria.

The Senate had, on Wednesday, summoned the IGP to appear in the chamber to address the lawmakers in plenary on Thursday (today).

The Police boss was, however, said to have accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari on a state visit to Bauchi State.

Faulting the Police boss for not officially communicating to them on his non-appearance, the lawmakers asked that the appearance be rescheduled to next Wednesday.

…Nigerian youths urged to sustain Nigeria’s heritage

Korean Cultural Centre Nigerian, KCCN, at this month’s Cultural Day intimated Nigerians and other nationals who thronged into the centre to witness the excellent display of cultural heritage with a brief celebration of the Korea’s Joseon Dynasty which lasted over 500 years.
The Joseon Dynasty ruled over a united Korean Peninsula for more than 500 years, from the fall of the Goryeo Dynasty in 1392 through the Japanese Occupation of 1910.
Joseon Dynasty, which traces of its contributions to the modern day Korea, is clearly evident lasted from 1392 – 1910.
Expressing admirations, many Nigerians who attended the events were of the opinion that Nigeria has a lot to learn from the Koreans concerning the preservation of her cultures and traditions.
One of the participants, Providence Maduka, urged the Nigerian government to establish Nigerian Cultural Centres abroad as part of ways to sustain her cultures.
Maduka says the era marked the beginning of all that holds the Korea’s culture today – etiquettes, language, medicinal science, food and agricultural innovations. But for her, the era’s ability to maintain order in the society was the most impressive.
A foodie, Anerobi Chimezie, preferred the food system of the era, particularly the royalty’s which had several cuisines to partake in one meal, whilst the lower class made do with one.
However, as they dressed up in hanboks – traditional Korean clothing, they are reminded more of their responsibilities to sustain their own cultures as the Koreans, and of what they can learn from the Joseon Dynasty.
“Koreans kept their traditions, from that era. It is very important that no matter where we are, how much we evolve, that we remember our roots, where we come from. Koreans didn’t completely change their culture or nor became completely Americanized. They didn’t forget who they are. We still see the architecture, clothing, food, and music from that era that have remained today. Nigerians need to learn that as we evolve we need to hold onto our traditions and stay true to who we are,” said the soft-spoken Maduka.
Impressed by the communication system of the time, irrespective of the class divisions of the time, Chimezie recommends Nigerian authorities learn to carry its citizens along in its administration.
Although the students themselves have varied levels of knowledge of their cultures, (Chimezie can speak and write the Igbo Language, while Maduka who read with some authority in Hangeul understands but cannot speak the Igbo Language), both see the occasion as a call to learn more and promote their cultures, by learning how to speak their languages, sustaining Nigeria’s evolved traditions and cultures through the establishment of culture centers abroad.
“The world today is a getting to a point where every country in the world is in one way or another interacting with one another to create projects, share ideas, cultures etc. (Culture center) is one way we can ensure cultural integration,” added Chimezie.
Heavily represented in Korean historical soap operas, and evident in their present living, the Joseon era contributed much to the life, society and attitudes of Koreans. The era under the reign of King Sejong saw the innovation of Hangeul (Korean alphabet) writing system, his effort to ensure the enlightenment of all members of the society, rich and poor. It also introduced improvements in medicinal and agricultural researches to enhance farm cultivation and promote healthy diets. Today, elements of that period can be glimpsed in the preserved Joseon palace, the modified social etiquettes, and cuisines such as kimchi. And the Hangeul students rendered an interactive speech presentation to indicate the slight changes in words and speech patterns from modern day Hangeul and that spoken during the Joseon period.

Fresh facts emerged yesterday as to why the Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Property is currently investigating allegations of criminal activities against Federal the self-acclaimed private investigator in the United kingdom,  Victor Uwajeh with the view of withdrawing his appointment as it’s consultant.

Chairman of the panel, Chief Okoi Obono Obla who confirmed this to Nigerian pilot  said the decision followed public outcry over his appointment.

” We are investigating the allegation and if it is true,  will likely review it.” Obono Obla confirmed.

However, Nigerian pilot  investigations revealed that the decision to review Uwajeh’s appointment by the panel may not be unconnected to series of complains by lawyers   to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami [SAN] particularly by Lawyers Against Corruption [LAC] .

The said complains  and Objection to the appointment of Victor Osita Uwajeh [aka Olikaeze Onicha Ugbo] as a Special Investigator to the Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery [PARP].

The lawyers , noted that “Mr. Victor Osita Uwajeh is a self-claimed UK based private Investigator who have been using fake investigator’s licence and certificate since 2007 to parade himself and impersonate as a trained private investigator.

“That the licence is to enable him carry out the security work of managing, supervising and /or employing individual who engage on such activities like guarding, key holding and immobilization, restriction and removal and clamping of wrongly parked vehicles. The licence will expire on the 25^th of May, 2020.

“Our background checks on Victor Uwajeh revealed that he has also been linked with so many criminal activities and corruption charges bordering on forgery, conspiracy, fraud and criminal impersonation. Sometimes in 2020, when operatives of the EFCC stormed his Abuja residence, they recovered several sensitive materials relating to the criminal case against Mrs. Cecilia Ibu, which he used in blackmailing her to part with millions of Naira. He presented fake identity card marked No. 23-340-1107 purportedly issued by EFCC to him as its informant in claiming that he was an operatives of the Commission with licence by the British Government to practice as a private investigator. However, investigation by EFCC revealed that it was a sham.

“That in the criminal proceedings involving Osita Victor Uwajeh in charge No. FCT /HC/CR/31/2010-Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs. Victor Osita Uwajeh, evidence were led to show that upon being authorized by the former chairman of EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri vide a letter dated 3^rd November 2008, with reference No. EFCC/EC/GC/031/1509, titled ‘Instruction to Act on Behalf of EFCC”, he took advantage of the authority to parade himself in the unsuspecting public as an EFCC official and engaged in acts of blackmail, extortion and forgery from politically exposed persons.”

Nigerian pilot recalled that controversy trialed Victor Uwajeh’s appointment by the Federal government, as a consultant to trace and recover undeclared assets and proceeds of fraud as part of the ongoing fight against corruption.

A group of aggrieved lawyers had queried the appointment which was done by the Chairman of the presidential panel on Recovery of Public Property, PARP, Chief Okoi Obono Obla.

The aggrieved lawyers under the auspices of Lawyers Against Corruption (LAC) have threatened to drag to Chief Obla to court over the said appointment.

Confirming the appointment of Uwajeh to Nigerian pilot , Obla said the panel has the powers to co-opt anybody who can assist in the recovery of government properties.

“Why do you want to confirm his appointment? We have the powers to appoint anybody to assist us in our job.

“He is a very experienced professional investigator who has worked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and has a track record on money tracing and asset recovery and we need his experience in helping us to carry out our mandate.

“It will interest you to know that he is doing it for free as a patriotic Nigerian.”

‎However, the lawyers wondered why a man who has a four-count criminal charge pending against him in court should be appointed by the panel.

Justice John Tsoho of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court has declared Uwajeh, who has been evading court summons as a fugitive of the law.

The judge further berated the Nigeria Police for protecting a fugitive of the law, after he was told by the prosecution counsel, Aminu Alilu that he was under police protection.

‎Before the Federal High Court, Victor Victor Uwajeh is facing a four court charge bordering on forgery, documents falsification, fraud and procuring forged documents.

The court has since granted the request made by the ‎Federal government to serve criminal summons on Uwajeh through substituted means, by pasting at his premises.

Justice Tsoho granted the application after counsel to the Federal government,  Alilu informed the court that Uwajeh had on several times  evaded service as he did  previously.

However, when the matter came up for hearing at the last adjourned date , Alilu informed the court that one of the court plantiff who went with the policeman at Uwajeh’s  residents was almost shot by the policeman guiding his house.

“one of the bailiff went to the address of the defendant at No:9 Jesse Jackson street Asokoro and was almost shot by the policemen guarding  his house.

“The defendant is aware of this matter. His counsel had pleaded that he travelled to the United States and that  once he return, he will appear in court.

“I know that it is  not yet ripe to make an application for a bench warrant. However, I will apply section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act for leave of the court to paste a copy of the Criminal of the Criminal summon in a conspicuous part in the premises where he resides”, he said.

Justice Tsoho after listening to the submissions wondered why someone that the state wants to bring to justice will be protected by the same people looking for him, he wondered why the police will be protecting a fugitive from the  law.

He urged the people going to effect the service at his residence  to be careful and mindful  of what had already played out.

He held that, ”giving the circumstances, section 124 has become inevitable. Accordingly, the application is granted. Service should be effected on Uwajeh through substituted means”.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to May 21 for arraignment.

‎The group of lawyers in a statement signed by its National President, Ahmed Lukma and the Secretary, Mr. Liman Shuaibu, there has been some unconfirmed online media that a fugitive of the law has been appointed a consultant by the PARP.

The group further added that it will challenge the action in court to proved that Victor Uwajeh is a man of questionable character citing instances on how he allegedly down loaded EFCC files during the tenure of Mrs Farida Waziri as the Executive Chairman of the EFCC when he paraded a fake certificate as a United kingdom private investigator extorting money from politically exposed persons.

According to the group,  Uwajeh was docked by the EFCC, for impersonation before a FCT high court.

The group further added that the certificate Victor Uwajeh is parading was issued to him last year in the United Kingdom as a license to work as a human and vehicle access controller, elevator and office building guarding and car park operator. This license was issued to Victor Uwajeh on the 26^th May, 2017 with license number 100390916576656, issued by the Security Industry Authority (sia) UK. This is information is verifiable. All other security licenses been paraded by Uwajeh are fake and forged documents and they are downloadable free of charge on google.

The group further alleged that if allowed Uwajeh will download government files in the federal ministry of Justice and start extorting money from politically exposed persons.

The group also said that they will do everything within the ambit of the law to stop the purported appointment of Victor Uwajeh aka Olikaeze Onicha Ugbo in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, another legal practitioner,  ‎Anayo Adibe condemned the said appointment while questioning the credibility of Uwajeh.

In a press statement in Abuja, Adigbe said his character as at present remain in doubt to hold public office until he presents himself bona fide to clear his name, and establish that his character remains in good stead.

” It presents a great obstacle to the intellect to fathom the reasons for and ramifications of Victor Osita Uwajeh’s proposed appointment to a Federal Government office as a ‘consultant on asset recovery’.

“The gentleman – l use the label merely in respect of formal convention- in question is, until he presents himself bonafide to clear his name, and establish that his character remains in good stead. This is public business, and we as honest members of the Nigerian public retain the right to scrutinize those who are mandated to act of our collective behalf.

Meanwhile, as it were, let us attend to the facts of the matter. Uwajeh, allegedly a private investigator based in the United Kingdom, who apparently also operates under the alliance of ‘Olikaeze Onichaugbo’ is under prosecution by the Attorney General of the Federation for charges including conspiracy, criminal impersonation, fraud and forgery in  CHARGE No.FHC/ABJ/CR/148/2017 FRN. Vs. VICTOR OSITA UWAJEH. The case is held before Hon. Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Uwajeh stands accused of defrauding British authorities by way of forged documents. Following a report on the issue:

“A preliminary investigation conducted to verify these bogus certificates Victor Uwajeh is using to deceive and defraud unsuspecting people shows that the certificate Victor Uwajeh is parading was issued to him last year 2017 in the United Kingdom as a permit to work as a human and vehicle access controller, elevator and office building guarding and car park operator. This license was issued to Victor Uwajeh on the 26th May, 2017 with license number 100390916576656, issued by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK. This is information is verifiable.                                                                                                  All other security licenses being paraded by Uwajeh are fake and forged documents which are downloadable free of charge of the internet. This is a brief character of a person that will be appointed as a consultant to an anti corruption agency.”

End